Doolan delights in Test cut and thrust

Tasmanian batsman Alex Doolan has returned from a creditable Australian Test debut tour of South Africa.Source: News Limited

AUSTRALIA will continue to play brash, confrontational cricket, as that is when it plays its best, Tasmania’s newest Test cap Alex Doolan says.

The Test team has received some criticism for the aggressive style that decimated Eng­land 5-0 during the summer Ashes campaign before stunning world cricket with a 2-1 win over the No. 1 ranked Proteas in South Africa.

Doolan, who debuted in the first Test against South Africa and played out the series at the pivotal No. 3 batting spot, said Australia played within the bounds of decency.

“I find Shield cricket can be quite aggressive at times as well depending on who you are playing against,” Doolan said back in Hobart yesterday.

“I don’t think we overstepped the mark at all. We go about it hard and we go about it fair, I think, and if people have got a problem with that then you can’t please everyone.

“The results are certainly showing for the Australian cricket team at the moment.

“You’ve got to be aggressive, you’ve got to be looking to win at every opportunity and trying to keep the opposition down for as long as you can.

“I think South Africa has done that well in the past and that’s why they are No. 1 and Australia is now certainly getting back into that position.”

Doolan, 28, looked assured and classy at the crease but did not quite nail down his spot, returning 186 runs at 31 against the world’s top team.

He made 27, 89, 8, 5, 20 and 37 – getting away four times without going on to make the really big innings.

“I thought they were up and down. I was certainly quite happy with my first game and then to come crashing back down to earth in Port Elizabeth [second Test] was very disappointing,” he said.

“I certainly feel comfortable at that level and I don’t think it is beyond me, but to start at No. 3 for Australia you’ve got to put some big numbers on the board and hopefully I get another opportunity to do that.

“The only difference is you’ve got to make big runs. I was the only batsman in the top order who didn’t make a hundred.

“Michael Clarke had a ser­ies that started quite slowly for him and then he came out and had that sensational innings at Cape Town to put us in a commanding position.

“That shows the character of him and what you need to do to be a Test player.”

Doolan and fellow squad member Jackson Bird will return for the Tigers’ final game of the season, the Shield match against South Australia at Blundstone Arena starting on Tuesday.

He will be getting married to fiancee Laura Gibb in May.

He said asking Ms Gibb’s father for his daughter’s hand was more daunting than facing Dale Steyn or Morne Morkel.